As we speak, the rape trial involves That show from the 70s student Danny Masterson continues in Los Angeles. There have been a number of noteworthy developments so far, including extraordinary eyewitness testimony at the beginning, but there is a problem that has clouded the story from the beginning. Scientology has been a major topic of discussion so far, as Masterson is a member of the church and so were the plaintiffs. As for the latter group, one of the main points of contention in the case is said to have been why they did not notify authorities first of Masterson’s alleged actions. Now, a former Scientologist has provided some information on this during the proceedings.
Mike Rinder, a practicing Scientologist for 50 years, sat down for an in-depth discussion of the Danny Masterson case, in which he has no direct involvement. Rinder, whose comments were reprimanded by the church after his interview with Picture , addressed the impact of the controversial religion on the proceedings and whether he could really be excluded from the talks. He also made statements on how the church can impact one’s life as a member:
Obviously the problem in this case is that the three alleged victims were, at the time of the facts for which he is prosecuted, all Scientologists, and that the circle of people around them was all Scientologists, and that the world in which they lived and how decisions about what to do in a given circumstance was strongly influenced by their involvement with Scientology. It’s hard to put it aside when there are people talking, that’s what I think happened to me, and that’s what I did next. When the problem becomes, well, why didn’t you go to the police right away? The thinking of people in the Scientology world is entirely based on: What does Scientology tell you to do and not to do? This is obviously part of the facts of the case.
If you read Mike Rinder’s statements correctly, it seems to suggest that to understand why the alleged victims did not approach the police while they were members of the church, the public must see the decision through the Scientology prism. And with that in mind, you seem to think it is difficult to separate religion from the facts presented at the trial. There are some in the case who would probably disagree with the idea of looking deeply from the point of view of the religious entity.
preside Judge Charlaine Olmedo was shocked by the opening statements , according to the first reports. Olmedo apparently believed that the prosecution and defense overstepped their limits by extensively mentioning the church and its alleged practices. The judge allegedly understood that “the lives of witnesses may have been completely flooded with Scientology.” Olmedo also stated that “this process will not be flooded with Scientology”. Mike Rinder, for his part, felt that the clerk couldn’t really separate the matter from the trial. According to him, it is “inevitable” that the two intertwine throughout the judicial process:
If you are a Scientologist, Scientology dictates everything about your life, everything about how you make decisions, everything about what you think is right or wrong. It also affects your relationships with your friends and family. The threat of losing your friends and family by disconnecting yourself from Scientology is a very, very real and visceral threat. It is not a hypothesis. The organization has tremendous influence on people’s decisions, so it’s no surprise to me that even though the judge said he didn’t want this to be a Scientology trial, it’s almost inevitable that the Scientology argument and the how Scientologists behave will make it a part of it because Scientology permeates people’s lives. It is very difficult for those outside of Scientology to understand how pervasive it is.
It was in 2017 that Danny Masterson was first investigated by the police for the allegations of sexual assault by three women. Masterson was accused of raping multiple women in 2020. The plaintiff has repeatedly denied the allegations and, in the meantime, the Church of Scientology itself has become involved in a case related to the rape trial. In 2019, Masterson and the church were sued by whistleblowers, who claimed they were intimidated and harassed for coming forward with their alleged stories. Mars Volta rock star Cedric Zavala also testified. that he and his wife, one of the plaintiffs, were persecuted by the church for six years.
Danny Masterson’s trial is expected to end on November 19th. In time, the public will just have to see if Mike Rinder is right in believing that religious practice can be overlooked when discussing the witness’s actions and other relevant issues.
Source: Cinemablend
